Direct Debit schemes across the Globe

Direct Debit is a widely used payment method across the globe. Different territories operate different schemes such as Bacs in the UK, SEPA across the Eurozone and BECS in Australia.

Schemes supported by GoCardless

GoCardless provides a single point of access to Europe’s largest Direct Debit schemes. Learn more about each scheme below, or get in touch to speak to our payments expert.

UK

Bacs

Currency: GBP

Automated payments are at the very centre of the UK’s financial system, providing an essential service for both consumers and organisations. Bacs is the company which runs Direct Debit in the UK. 74% of all recurring payments are made by Direct Debit.

Eurozone

SEPA

Currency: EUR

SEPA Direct Debit is a Europe-wide Direct Debit system that allows merchants to collect Euro-denominated payments from accounts in the 19 SEPA countries and associated territories.

Key markets:

Germany, Austria, France, Spain and The Netherlands

Australia

BECS

Currency: AUD

The Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS) is managed and regulated by BECS. Direct Debit is a popular payment method in Australia, making up around 1/3 of all non-cash payments.

Sweden

Autogiro

Currency: SEK

Bg Autogiro is a Direct Debit scheme for collecting Krona-denominated payments from a bank account in Sweden. Approximately eight out of ten Swedes use Autogiro with the average customer paying five to seven bills per month via Autogiro.

Denmark

Betalingsservice

Currency: DKK

Direct Debit is used by 95% of households in Denmark. Betalingsservice allows companies to collect Danish Krona directly from business and customer bank accounts, helping them to create long-lasting relationships.

New Zealand

PaymentsNZ

Currency: NZD

Direct Debit is fast becoming a popular payment method in New Zealand having grown over 14% over the last few years. It is managed by PaymentsNZ via the Bulk Electronic Clearing System (BECS).

Canada

PAD

Currency: CAD

Pre-authorized debits (PADs) are a convenient way to pay bills and make other payments automatically from a bank account. It's a great way to pay bills like your mortgage, utilities, donations and insurance premiums.